SERIES HISTORY: Stanford leads 15-14. In Tucson, Arizona has a 7-6 edge. The Cardinal, which has not been to Tucson since 2011, has won the past four meetings, including last year’s 55-17 blowout at Stanford Stadium.

STORYLINES: Junior Keller Chryst will make his first start at quarterback in place of fifth-year senior Ryan Burns. Chryst, a Palo Alto High product, has seen regular but limited action, appearing in at least one series in all but one game. Although Burns did have some success — he led Stanford to a dominant win over USC, a thrilling last-minute victory over UCLA at the Rose Bowl and a rare road win at Notre Dame — coach David Shaw made the switch because the Cardinal’s offense has been lacking in the touchdown department. … Stanford has never lost to Arizona in six years under Shaw. However, that was also true of Washington State and Colorado, which beat the Cardinal this month. Stanford has dropped three straight Pac-12 games for the first time since 2008. … Arizona, which was off last week, has lost four straight. … Either of two quarterbacks could start for Arizona. Sophomore Brandon Dawkins is the Wildcats’ leading passer (69 of 118, 941 yards, five touchdowns) and rusher (96.8 yards per game). Both of Arizona’s victories have come with Dawkins under center, but he missed the Wildcats’ Oct. 15 loss to USC with a concussion. Anu Solomon, meanwhile, ranks among the Wildcats’ all-time leading passers (6,853 yards, 48 touchdowns). The junior missed several games with a knee injury after throwing for 213 yards in the Wildcats’ season-opening loss to BYU but returned to practice last week.

STANFORD INJURY UPDATE: CB Alijah Holder is out for the season. FB Daniel Marx is out for the foreseeable future but expected to return this season. OLs David Bright and Johnny Caspers are questionable.

STATS THAT MATTER: Despite Stanford’s offensive struggles, McCaffrey still leads the Pac-12 in all-purpose yardage (175.8 yards per game) and is one of two running backs in the conference averaging more than 100 yards rushing per contest. However, the junior hasn’t scored a touchdown since the Cardinal’s Sept. 17 win over USC. … DLs Solomon Thomas and Harrison Phillips have recorded sacks in three consecutive games. Thomas has at least 1½ in each of his past two games and leads Stanford with 5½ sacks. Arizona, however, has allowed the second fewest sacks in the Pac-12. … Cardinal P Jake Bailey ranks 10th nationally with an average of 45.4 yards per punt. The sophomore averaged 50.6 yards against Colorado, including a career-best 61-yarder, and twice pinned the Buffaloes inside their 15-yard line. … Arizona CB Jace Whittaker is tied for the Pac-12 lead in pass break-ups with 11.

STANFORD WINS IF: Its offense does its part. Stanford’s defense has held each of its past two opponents to 10 points, including a Colorado team that came in averaging 39 points. Each of the Cardinal’s next four opponents, including Arizona, has surrendered at least 30.8 points per game. Stanford thus has the perfect opportunity to break out of its offensive funk. “The defense trusts us to get back on track,” WR Trenton Irwin said. “Everybody just has to do their one-eleventh and not stab ourselves in the foot.”

STANFORD LOSES IF: It commits too many turnovers, especially in crunch time. A team that scores as infrequently as Stanford can ill afford turnovers, and Burns committed three with the game on the line against Colorado: He fumbled away the Cardinal’s best shot at a touchdown on first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter, then threw interceptions on each of Stanford’s next two possessions.

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